Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

Tuesday, October 2, 1951 Motion Picture daily 3 Television Football Has A Mild Start Chicago, . Oct. 1— The large-screen TV showing of the Notre Dame-Indiana football game at the West Side Marbro, South Side Tivoli and North Side Uptown theatres here was a mechanical success but a financial disappointment with each theatre only one-quarter full at kickoff time. There was little or no resistance to the $1.20 admission price, the attraction undoubtedly being handicapped by limited promotion as a result of the deal for showing of the game being closed at the 11th hour. Those at the theatres were enthusiastic and the reception was excellent. Light attendance at this game parallels the experience of last year which saw meager crowds for the opening games but showed a marked increase as the season progressed. It was the first game to be telecast this season. Football Telecast Fails To Draw at Albany Theatre Albany, N. Y., Oct. 1. — Fabian's 1,550-seat Grand Theatre here drew less than one-third capacity for the closed circuit telecast of the Notre Dame-Indiana football game from South Bend, Ind., last Saturday. Special newspaper copy had been placed. Technical reception of the telecast was excellent. Philadelphia, Oct. 1. — Saturday's telecast of the Pennsylvania-California football game by the CBS color system was generally regarded as "disappointing." After the novelty of color on the small picture screens wore off, numerous technical flaws were apparent and many viewers complained of eye strain. The telecast was one of the first sustained demonstrations of the system available to the public but very few are believed to have seen it due to the fact that few sets are equipped to receive the color telecasts. RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. TRADE SHOWINGS of "DRUMS IN THE DEEP SOUTH" ATLANTA — RKO Scr Room, 195 Luckie St., N.W., Thursday, October 4, 2:30 P.M. CHARLOTTE— Fox Scr. Room, 308 S. Church St., Thursday, October 4, 2:00 P.M. MEMPHIS— Fox Scr. Room, 151 Vance Avenue, Thursday, October 4, 2:00 P.M. NEW ORLEANS— Fox Scr. Room, 200 S. Liberty St., Thursday, October 4, 2:30 P.M. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in i vquirements of the Motion Picture Industry "5 M,iiden Lane, New York 3720 W. 6th St., Los Angeles Rodgers Calls Meet {Continued from page 1) F. Seadler. Dan S. Terrell, John Joseph, H. M. Richey, M. L. Simons, William D. Kelly, Alan F. Cummings, Richard A. Harper, Joel Bezahaler, William Brenner, George Maurer and Bill Ornstein. Also from the home office and field sales stafif : Sales managers : John P. Byrne, Rudolph Berger, John S. Allen, John J. Maloney, Burtus Bishop, Jr., and George A. Hickey, Los Angeles ; Field assistants to sales managers : Herman Ripps, Samuel J. Gardner. Home office assistants : Paul J. Richrath, Leonard Hirsch, William I. Levine, Charles F. Deesen, Sidney Lefkowitz, Irving Helfont. District managers : Saal Gottlieb, Robert Lynch, Charles E. Kessnich, Walter E". Banford, Ralph W. Maw. Cleveland Services For Sid Holland Cleveland, Oct. 1. — Sid Holland, S3, manager of the Fairview Theatre, died suddenly at the weekend in Fairview Hospital of a heart ailment. Holland, well known in the industry operated theatres in Brockton, Mass., and in Indiana before coming to Cleveland. He is survived by the widow, a son, Robert, who manages the Shaw Hayden Theatre in Cleveland, 'two brothers, Harry, manager of a Fabian bouse in Brooklyn and Emanuel of N. Y. Funeral services were held yesterday in the Deutsh Funeral Home, with burial in Mt. Olive cemetery. Thomas Urbansky, 66 Cleveland, Oct. 1. — Thomas Urbansky, 66, owner of the Lorain Theatre here, died at the weekend of injuries sustained in a mysterious attack in his Ontario Street leather store. Trade Practices (Continued from page 1) table conference such subjects as print shortages and "bunching" of releases, revival of the issue is likely to meet with stiff opposition, observers here believe. Only if the COMPO by-laws are amended to allow for treatment of trade practice problems would discussion of the subjects in question carry any real weight, it was pointed out. Business Rockets (Continued from page 1) English product. Exhibitors diagnose this as showing that new theatre patrons have been developed. Started by the Fairmont, a deluxe first-run neighborhood house, this policy of offering outstanding English pictures has spread to the Mayland, another East Side deluxe house and to the Detroit Theatre on the West Side. A double feature showing of "Blanche Fury" and "Blue Lamp" had such a successful seven-day run last week that the theatre is bringing it back for a repeat run upon popular request. Hollywood Newsreel Set by Screen Gems A weekly "Hollywood Newsreel," that will bring news and highlights of happenings in Hollywood to the nation's television viewers, is being offered by Screen Gems, Inc., beginning early in November, it was announced. L.A. Council Hails Work of Industry Hollywood, Oct. 1.— The Los Angeles City Council today adopted a resolution reading, in part, "Whereas the motion picture industry now centered in our city has done much to demonstrate to peoples of the world the munificent benefits of the American way of life, and whereas the industry is counted among the greatest in our city, reflecting prestige and honor upon us all, be it resolved that the City Council of Los Angeles most heartily congratulate the motion picture industry and wish for it great success in its golden jubilee celebration known as 'Movietime U.S.A.' " Settle Bunin, ELC Suit Out of Court The suit and counter suit involving Pathe Industries and Eagle Lion Classics and Bunin Productions over the distribution of Bunin's "Alice in Wonderland," has been settled out of court. According to papers filed in New York Supreme Court, the case was discontinued under a settlement which it is understood involved no monetary consideration. Pathe Industries and Eagle Lion Classics sued Bunin Productions for :$1, 000,000 for non-delivery of "Alice," while Bunin countersued for $1,500,000, claiming Pathe failed to distribute the picture contravening an agreement. Distribution of the film now is by Souvaine. Mulvey, McCarthy (Continued from page 1) discussion of the problem with McCarthy. SIMPP's principal objection to the .agreement with Spain that McCarthy brought back to New York following his recent tour of Europe centers in ;the requirement calling for payment to the Spanish government of $13,000 ;for each import permit. The Society is against setting the precedent in a foreign film agreement of paying a government for permits. Apart from this objection, SIMPP opposes the limiting of permits to 100 a year, even though only 82 American pictures were sent into Spain last ;year. House Group (Continued from page 1) the union shop provisions of the TaftHartley law. The Hollywood unions not only want the requirement for a union shop Election eliminated but, even more important, they want a shortening in the time within which a new worker must join a union which holds a union-shop contract. A bill to cut this :time from the present 30 days to two days is pending before a Senate labor sub-committee. The latter group has an executive session tentatively set for Oct. 3 on this bill. The bill approved by the House Labor Committee tomorrow would waive the present law's requirement for an election before the National Labor Relations Board can certify a union shop i contract. Product on TV (Continued from page 1) joyed by the AFM, also isj>eing demanded, although a percentage figure has not been divulged. Establishment of a pension fund, insurance and. hospitalization systems, also are among the demands. Meanwhile, Screen Actors Guild sub-committees appointed last week to handle particularly intricate phases of the Guild's negotiations with major producers for a new contract are making satisfactory progress and are expected to report back Oct. 9. Generally considered uppermost on the Guild negotition agenda is producers' sale of theatrical films to television, against which the Guild will ask outright prohibition. Guild spokesman today said this is a matter over which the SAG conceivably could call the first studio strike in its history. Johnston Head (Continued from page 1) announced by Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, NCCJ president. "In its efforts to advance the principle of brotherhood -through justice and fair play," Johnston stated, "the National Conference of Christians and Jews is lending strong impetus to the building of a better and stronger America. In turn, this serves to buttress the entire Free World, for much of its strength is drawn directly from America." Johnston will work with the NCCJ national co-chairman, Benson Ford, vice-president, Ford Motor Co. ; Thomas E. Braniff, president, Braniff International Airways ; and Roger W. Straus, chairman, American Smelting & Refining Co. Schine, Majors (Continued from page 1) Oswego and the Pontiac in Ogdensburg. The plaintiff claims that the defendants violated the Sherman anti-trust law in monopolizing "top bracket" films and that Martina will be unable to continue the two theatres in business on a competitive basis. The plaintiff claims damages of $110,000 as its purchase price for the two theatres, $65,000 for improvements made, $25,000 for losses in revenue and $80,500 for what would have been its profits. Treble damages are asked. THIS IS A TEASER!